A new education system for South Africa

[desA]

A new education system for South Africa.

Change the way education is delivered!

1. A large computer monitor/screen in every classroom.
2. Centralised education centre (CEC), where best teachers possible present each subject.
3. Servers at each school (SS).
4. Lessons moved from CEC to SS continuously - in compressed format.
5. Servers de-compress overnight, for next day's lessons.
6. Each classroom has lesson on monitor in classroom.
7. Teachers become 'tutors'/'coaches'.
8. Learners have subject textbooks & work-books. Self education. All in pdf format. Print on site.

SA could have one of the premier education systems on the planet.
Best possible information highways from CEC to SS - satellite (full education channels), digital lines, Google blimps.

Let us bless the nation. It is not that difficult!!!

[Justloadit]

Add with that local on site storage so that a lesson can be reviewed at any time by students.


Also it is not necessary to even compress, or even have a local on site server, and IMHO a better solution, simply talk to MNET, and they could add these teaching channels to the satellite dish, and with a decoder, they would have the lessons at real time speed.

The advantages here are that you do not even need ESKOM or electricity, but install a solar system to charge batteries up to power the decoder and TV and you can have a classroom anywhere in the southern tip of Africa. MNET is making so much money from it's subscribers and the addition of annoying adverts during prime time viewing, even though we pay to watch the contents via monthly subscription, that they could earn brownie points for allowing free education content to be transmitted on their spare channels.

[Blurock]

I have to agree with Adrian. The rot in our education system is so deep that it is almost at the point of no return. Kids come out of even posh schools, unable to read or write properly. In certain areas anarchy rules and the schools are ruled by gangs and bullies. No wonder there are schools with a zero pass rate in matric!

What do you expect where you have uneducated teachers, sex for marks and headmasters running their own businesses during school hours?

Distance education via electronic means is great. I have also done such courses at a US university. We had a virtual classroom with a lecturer and "some classmates". Ons could also phone in or ask questions via e-mail. Some lectures were delivered via video tape, but I found those extremely boring and skipped most of them.

It would be a great idea to have a virtual classroom with a really good teacher for maths and science with the school teacher just facilitating and keeping order. The reality however is that the teacher will be absent or on strike half the time, the equipment will be stolen and the classroom burnt down. As for tablets, they will be stolen and sold for drugs within days.

Let's face it, we live in a 3rd world country, so we need to find a 3rd world solution. I am dreaming of the day that our kids will complete school as well rounded, educated and motivated young adults who are ready to take on the challenges of life. Sadly, I think this may be a pipe dream with the quality of government that we have now.

[desA]

Thanks, Justloadit.

Add with that local on site storage so that a lesson can be reviewed at any time by students.

Very useful. Local access to the servers. Would assist with review, homework & self-learning.

Also it is not necessary to even compress, or even have a local on site server, and IMHO a better solution, simply talk to MNET, and they could add these teaching channels to the satellite dish, and with a decoder, they would have the lessons at real time speed.

My thought here was to have a separate feed/channel for each subject/class. This will mean quite a few simultaneous feeds to classroom. This could be served by a complete education satellite services, with multiple subject channels. Remember this is multiplied across classes/levels/standards.

A lot happening all at once, & a fair signal logistic load. The pre-feed into a server would allow 24h feed, with 6h call-off - allowing a slimming-down of instantaneous traffic from CEC to SS.

The advantages here are that you do not even need ESKOM or electricity, but install a solar system to charge batteries up to power the decoder and TV and you can have a classroom anywhere in the southern tip of Africa. MNET is making so much money from it's subscribers and the addition of annoying adverts during prime time viewing, even though we pay to watch the contents via monthly subscription, that they could earn brownie points for allowing free education content to be transmitted on their spare channels.

Very useful thought. Many schools are really electrically challenged.

My main concern with MTN is that they'd want to charge excessive fees & would end up monopolizing education. This seems to be a South African malady. Look at what happened to sport.

The new education concept needs to be a gift to the people of SA. Would Richard Branson's team perhaps be interested in changing a nation, I wonder?

[tec0]

We are at a point where a tablet computer cost less R2000 and if the state subsidise it and allow perhaps allow a cool down on import tax these devices can be cheaper. On this device you can have a dedicated 3G network designed to only serve students.

This service can cost you about R60 a month based existing data models. All you need now is downloadable lessons in the form of videos and e-books. Thus the student have access to lessons 24/7 and there handbooks.

The device can be limited and even locked to the point where it can only be used as an educational device so there will be no fooling around on it. The second step is to scrap schools and introduce examination facilities where they will go to write examinations.

They can register when they want to write what subject and can pay a small amount when the go to the physical establishment. Thus allowing them to get there marks immediately thus allowing them to see where they make mistakes and work on it.

This system will give the student freedom to study from home “safely” to write examinations on their own speeds and get educated.

Now I know people will say this is a stupid idea. But I am studying right now and our study group is worth more than the classroom but sadly we don’t have recorded lessons to watch. The above system will work and will be cheaper then maintaining thousands of schools.

[desA]

Thanks, tec0. Paradigms are shifting.

I like your thought processes. Essentially, move everything to the home-schooled platform. Perhaps a possible group collaborative effort using low-cost meeting places, to share ideas; individual coaching; printing of downloaded pdf books.

In Thailand, free tablet computers are provided to the children. Internet access at a school location is free. Low high-speed internet costs for those working at home - the service is incredibly inexpensive in Asia, in general.

The secret would be to reduce communication costs to zero for education use. Power over education has to be removed from the hands of the educational oppressors!

I do believe that over time, two systems will emerge:
1. Study-at-home;
2. Collaborative efforts e.g. optimised low-cost schools; church groups.

[HR Solutions]

There are a few schools that are already using the tablet system for lectures, study material etc etc. I have a strong feeling that Crawford College is doing it. It is a fantastic system and I just hope that it works and is not abused.

[tec0]

It is time for government to see that “traditional education” is failing and that we need a new proactive system that will allow for quality and access. Because not every child can travel 200km to school and back. Not to mention that the transport may not always be reliable or safe.

Low cost or even government funded Tablet computers that are “locked” to avoid abuse is a start. Having the programs “videos and e-books” available to download is a second thirdly is a good network infrastructure.

The only thing left is the examination facility that the student can visit when they are ready for examination. Thus students that want’s to get educated can get educated. I believe this is the future.

Imagine the freedom the student will have to study each subject as far as they want to study it! It will be so cool to see this happen.

This system can also be used for modular training.

[desA]

It is time for government to see...

Herein lies the rub.

This lot couldn't care less. The paradigm change will have to be externally-driven.

[tec0]

Herein lies the rub.

This lot couldn't care less. The paradigm change will have to be externally-driven.

Fear not, see they love money more and this system will cost them less then the normal educational system so there own greed will make sure that this system sees the light.